Guides

Combine filters into complete guided experiences that help users find exactly what they're looking for.

Guides are the complete user experience that combines multiple filters into a step-by-step journey. They're the main component that brings together all your facets, filters, designs, and templates.

Guide Components

Component	Purpose	Required
Filters	Step-by-step user questions	Yes
Design	Visual appearance and layout	Yes
Template	How results are displayed	Yes
Logic	Conditional filter behavior	Optional

Creating a Guide

Navigate to Guide Creation

Go to GuidePlugin > Guides > Create in your WordPress admin.

Configure Introduction Text

Set up the welcome message users see before starting:

Guide text configuration

Field	Purpose	Example
Title	Guide headline	"Find Your Perfect Product"
Description	Brief explanation	"Answer a few questions to get personalized recommendations"

Select Filters

Choose which filters appear in your guide and their order:

Guide filter selection

Filter Organization Tips:

Start with broad categories, then narrow down
Keep total steps under 5-7 for best completion rates
Consider logical user decision flow

Choose Design

Select how your guide looks in the frontend:

Guide design selection

Option	When to Use
Existing Design	Use proven layouts across multiple guides
Custom Design	Create unique look for specific guide

Configure Progress Display

Set up loading screens and progress messages:

Guide progress configuration

Setting	Purpose
Show Progress Modal	Display loading screen during search
Final Message	Thank you message after completion

Set Up Results

Configure where and how results are displayed:

Guide results configuration

Setting	Description
Results Per Page	How many items to show initially
Result Template	Which template to use for display
Target Container	Where results appear on page

Include/Exclude Content

Fine-tune which content appears in results:

Guide include/exclude settings

Content Filtering Options:

Post Types - Include specific content types
Taxonomies - Include/exclude categories or tags
Custom Criteria - Advanced filtering rules

Best Practice: Test your guide thoroughly before going live. Walk through the entire user journey to ensure smooth experience.

Guide Configuration Best Practices

Aspect	Recommendation	Impact
Filter Count	3-5 filters maximum	Higher completion rates
Introduction	1-2 sentences max	Reduces abandonment
Progress Feedback	Always show progress	Builds user confidence
Result Quantity	Start with 6-12 results	Prevents overwhelming users

Common Configuration Issues

Problem	Symptoms	Solutions
No Results	Guide completes but shows nothing	Check include/exclude settings Verify filter-facet connections Ensure content exists for combinations
Too Many Results	Results aren't specific enough	Add more filters Refine facet granularity Review filter logic
Poor User Flow	High abandonment rates	Simplify filter questions Reduce total steps Improve introduction clarity
Slow Performance	Guide takes too long to load	Optimize facet indexing Reduce complex filter combinations Use efficient templates

Displaying Your Guide

Once created, add your guide to pages using:

Method	Code	Use Case
Shortcode	`[guideplugin id="123"]`	Simple page embedding
Widget	GuidePlugin Widget	Sidebar or footer placement
PHP Function	`do_shortcode('[guideplugin id="123"]')`	Theme integration

Next Steps

Component	Purpose	Link
Designs	Customize guide appearance	Learn More →
Templates	Style result displays	Learn More →
Logic	Add conditional behavior	Learn More →

Guides

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